Who we are :

The staff and crew of eduspeak are a group of public and private school teachers, current and former public school students, parents and other assorted villans associated with public education who wish to remain anonymous. Here's why:

One of the problems with the American Public Education system is that it's so damningly political. If those of us who are teachers are honest with our administrators, we are castigated, or worse, not rehired when we go looking for another teaching position. When we speak up, we're considered "trouble makers." Oh, there are the tenured teachers who have no such fears, but, even they hesitate to express their feelings openly.

So, we've chosen to give ourselves and all contributors the oportunity to post opinions, evaluations, complaints, et cetera, incognito. We like to say that we're "hiding out in Cognito. Which is somewhere south of Cucamonga, California." So we can do so without having to worry about retribution.

One other thing. I've noticed over the years that when someone asks me what I do for a living and I tell them, "I'm a public school teacher," many times the reaction I get is a sudden reddening of the face, a glance down to their feet — one of which begins to draw a circle in the ground — a furtive look around and a rolling of the eyes. Even when I meet other teachers. Unlike, as a US Army veteran, when I meet another veteran we immediately know that we are a part of a common brotherhood, and begin to share where we served, and when, what our military occupation was, and how long we served. Oh, we teachers have our "war stories" too. But we tell them to each other. It can be said, we "don't talk out of school." But, to us, that means we don't talk in school. Especially not within earshot of administrators or parents.

This is because teaching is not held in the highest regard. Notwithstanding the occasional "If you can read this, thank a teacher" bumber stickers, teachers are isolated: from their administrators, many of their fellow teachers, and ... well, our fellow human beings. And, why is that, exactly? That is the ulimate purpose of this blog — as high minded as that may sound. The purpose of this blog is an attempt to air some grievances with the ultimate purpose of reforming the American elementary and secondary public education system.

It's a disaster. Everybody's saying it, and we mean everybody: the press, politicians, parents, educators, the business community, law enforcement, preachers, the man on the street, and most importantly — though few are listening — the students who are forced to endure our public schools.

Primary gradeschoolers still seem to have yet to become so jaded. But, ask students from about the 5th grade onward and you'll hear a host of complaints.

Eduspeak: 'The use of acronyms and abbreviations to further the cause of American education.'

—The Clarence C. Barker Aggravated Collegiate Dictionary.
pvtob books ©2008

Eduspeak Staff and Contributors:

Larry J. Hall
—is a credentialed California, NCLB-compliant, CLAD certified, public school teacher; semi-retired; was a freelance and staff photojournalist for nearly 15 years. He worked as a staff editor and instructor in the journalism department of a California community college before he earned his teacher's credential from what he calls a "typical, California credential mill."

Fred Munch
—is a high school social science teacher at a predominantly black, inner city school in Alabama. He currently teaches US History and Government to Juniors and Seniors. This is his 24th year teaching.

Nick Johansen
—is a Nashville, Tennessee musician-songwriter, who tours as a drummer with Birdsongs Records recording artist Maynard Pluck; he is a photojournalist and published author; a parent, and an avid critic of the American Public School System.